1.
Jakobsson, Mats, et al.
(författare)
'Att blifva sin egen' : ungdomars väg in i vuxenlivet i 1700- och 1800-talens övre Norrland
2000
Ingår i: Sociologisk forskning. - Umeå : Umeå universitet. ; 37:3-4, s. 134-141
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The background to this study is that there is no studies on youth and their transition to adulthood in preindustrial Sweden. The main objective of this thesis has therefore been to analyze young peoples transition to adulthood during the late 18th and 19th centuries in a region of the northern part of Sweden. The social context of the region was mainly agrarian during the investigated period despite the fact that in the later part of the 19th and beginning of 20th century, a development of a growing forest industry had started. The main questions is: How and when in life did different social categories of young people establish an independent and adult life? Where there any changes in transitional patterns and was the establishment smoother or more troublesome at different times during the investigated period ? Where there any changes regarding social norms related to the establishment of adult life?The transition to adult life is studied from a life-course approach and four key-transitions; The First Holy communion, leaving home, marriage and parenthood are regarded as significant steps within the process to a independent social position. Individual data related to keytransitions is mainly collected from cathectical examination records and comprised 2206 individuals born in six different cohorts between 1770 and 1900. The selected cohorts represents individuals that had to deal with different social conditions during their youth and transition to adult life.The main results regarding the transition to adult life can be summarized in two words, complexity and variance. Usually it was a "long" transition but the number of accomplished keytransitions and the order between them varied, as well as ages when taking the first Holy Communion, leaving home, marriage and entering parenthood varied. Transitional patterns varied between different categories of youth. A dividing line existed between the sexes, those from households strongly rooted in the agricultural structure and those with background in social categories that didn't own or was in possession of land. Social norms related to keytransitons changed along this dividing line during the investigated period of time, and became less permissive within landowning or land-possessing categories and less prescriptive in other categories.Transitional patterns were also influenced by the social situation at different historical times. The need for labor, war and years of famine directly intervened in timing and sequencing of keytransitions. A long term development was that the transition to adult life became more problematic in the later part of the 19th century, especially among young people who were less integrated in the social context and among socially stigmatized youth. Finally, young people were active and reflexive in seeking social space to make the transition to adult life, actions that sometimes caused tensions and conflicts between generations.
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Nilsen, Åke
(författare)
En empirisk vetenskap om duet : Om Alfred Schutz bidrag till sociologin
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This dissertation examines Alfred Schutz's (1899-1959) approach to sociology, which early in his work he called an empirical science of the thou, with an emphasis on the sociological theory he worked out to strengthen interpretive sociology. Based on a methodological understanding about the possibility of being able to achieve scientific knowledge of the other's, the thou's, context within which meaning is created and action is based, Schutz further developed an interpretive approach which has its roots in Edmund Husserl's phenomenology. This dissertation highlights Schutz's contribution to sociology, both in terms of his own writing and the influence he has had on others, exemplified by Peter Berger & Thomas Luckman, Harold Garfinkel and Jürgen Habermas. The purpose of this critical analysis is to discern the positive contributions as well as deficiencies in Schutz's sociological theory, as well as locating Schutz's and his followers' perspectives in relation to sociology's methodological foundations. This dissertation primarily takes up two theory of science issues which are related to Schutz's and his followers' perspectives. The first issue revolves around the relationship between the theoretical development that Schutz undertakes through a phenomenological approach to analyzing the reality of everyday life and interpretive sociology's foundations. The second issue revolves around the relationship between Schutz's and his followers' approach and the methodological foundations of sociology. The dissertation is divided into three parts. Part I takes up Schutz's life and approach to sociology. Part II comprises of an analysis of Schutz's contribution to, and influence on, sociology with particular reference to his sociological theory. Part III takes up the issues of sociological theory and the methodological foundations of sociology.
5.
Strandh, Mattias, 1970-
(författare)
Varying unemployment experiences? : the economy and mental well-being
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
From being an unemployment success story, Sweden was during the 1990s thrown into a European normality, with apparent high and persistent unemployment. This has made unemployment a central issue in the Swedish public debate as a social problem directly affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals. In the public debate there is however no consensus on what characterises the experience of unemployment. One perspective emphasises the role of employment for self-realisation. Unemployment here becomes a very destructive experience, due to the psychosocial value attached to employment. An alternative perspective instead views employment as a necessary evil that brings little satisfaction to those who participate in it. From this perspective unemployment mean very little to those struck by it outside the possible negative effects on income (which are minimised by the welfare state).The objective of this thesis has been to move beyond the postulated truths of what the experience of unemployment means. It uses an empirical approach in order to investigate the consequences of unemployment for mental well-being, and to develop an understanding of the reasons for this relationship.The following conclusions can be drawn from the five articles that make up the thesis. In line with previous international and Swedish research, the thesis shows that unemployment as compared to employment is in general a distressing experience. This does however not mean that we can draw the simple conclusion that unemployment represents misery and employment represents the absence of misery. The thesis finds the relationship to be more complex than so. There is a need to take into account more of the possible variations in status available both on and outside the labour market. Different exit routes from unemployment were found to have different consequences for the mental well-being of the unemployed individual. Further, the evidence in the thesis shows that there is variation in the impact of unemployment on mental well-being within the unemployment group. We should, thus, not talk about the experience of unemployment, but rather about varying unemployment experiences.The general effect of unemployment on mental well-being, and the variation in the unemployment experience, was in turn shown to be mainly dependent on two factors. Firstly on the psychosocial need for employment in a society where employment is the norm. Secondly, on the economic need for employment in a society where employment, as the thesis also shows, for many still is necessary for adequate economic resources.
6.
Bengs, Carita, 1964-
(författare)
Looking good : a study of gendered body ideals among young people
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The main objective of this thesis is to study how social and cultural norms regarding body and appearance are perceived and interpreted by young people. This is done by studying both how these perceptions affect young people and how the body is controlled and altered through practices such as dieting, exercise, plastic surgery and the use of steroids. Another question raised in the study concerns important sources of influence for how one's own body is perceived. The study is based on a questionnaire distributed to 167 young girls and boys aged 13,15 and 17.The theoretical framework includes both general theories of the body and gender perspectives. Four themes have been applied in order to capture central and important aspects of the ideal body. These are; the problematic body, the controlled body, the commodified body and the social body. These themes are all related both to gender and to the portrayal of bodies in mass media.The main conclusion is that the body matters very much to many young people today, both their own perceptions of it and what others think of it. The perceptions of one's own body is also very much gendered. Many girls have internalised a fragmented and problematised way of looking at their bodies. They report a greater dissatisfaction with their bodies than do boys. Size and shape are regarded as particularly problematic and a small and slim body is preferred. Girls are also frequently engaged in practices to alter and control their bodies and are more concerned with the state of their own bodies and how others' view them. Boys expressed a greater satisfaction with their bodies. Their dissatisfaction is primarily focused on height and weight and indicates a desire to become bigger and taller. Exercise is the prime way for boys to alter their bodies. However, their own bodies are not as problematic as for girls; instead they seem to be more concerned with others' bodies. Friends, together with mass media (particularly visual media and magazines), are regarded as the strongest source of influence on how the respondents (both girls and boys) perceive their bodies.Age differences are also found. Girls display a tendency to be more dissatisfied with and be more involved in practices to alter the body the older they are. Boys display the reverse situation. The largest differences can therefore be found among the oldest. The influence of friends and media tend also to be perceived as more important among the oldest.
7.
Abiala, Kristina, 1948-
(författare)
Säljande samspel : en sociologisk studie av privat servicearbete
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Interaction between people can be seen as a distinctive feature of 'post-industrial society'. In this study I investigate some of the conditions for this encounter in private service work in Sweden. I start by discussing some important concepts: service, service encounter and emotional labour. Three parties in an interactional triangle can be perceived: the service enterprise, the service worker and the customer.The service encounter is embedded in organisational frames. Recruiting for social competence and training for selling interaction are two facets of these frames. In interactive service work, control is complicated by the fact that a third party, the customer, is involved and that the borders between worker, work process and result are somewhat indistinct. Indirect forms of control can be used to affect workers' attitudes and thinking, as well as behaviour.Service work can be described as a form of acting. Different service workers will identify differently with their work role. In my study I observe both positive and negative experiences of work. A majority report that they sometimes are so tired of people that they want to be alone after work.I distinguish two dimensions of interactive service work: type of interaction and sales situation. Interaction can be more or less important, and the sales situation can be more or less concealed. Based on these dimensions I suggest a typology to illustrate some differences between different service occupations. Four types are suggested: (1) Work first, and customer later; (2) Personalised services; (3) Routine selling; and (4) Persuasive selling. In the second group we find the experts of interaction, but also the strongest signs of social strain.
8.
Ahn, Sang-Hoon
(författare)
Pro-welfare politics : A model for changes in European welfare states
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This dissertation explores the changing conditions of European welfare states and the underlying driving forces behind these changes. It is broadly based on the recently emphasized notions of dynamic structuring and internal structure of welfare programs, taking into account the new environment of the welfare state. More specifically, it seeks to uncover the political mechanisms behind the changes in public welfare program structure by examining important driving forces at a macro level, then by relating this to political processes at the micro level. Thus, this dissertation is composed of two parts, i.e., a macro- and a microanalysis of pro-welfare politics.In the macro analysis, the relative explanatory power of core driving forcesbehind welfare efforts is examined using a pooled time series analysis of 12 European countries for the period between 1960 and 1989. In addition to drawing on traditional approaches that emphasize the importance of political driving forces, differences in the roles played by Left party power and Christian party power are examined. The meaning of intergenerational conflict is also examined in the context of welfare program changes.The microanalysis is devoted to uncovering mechanisms of pro-welfare politics by analyzing the complex internal relationships of those pro-welfare politics.This is approached using a theoretical framework of "welfare statuses of rights and duties" as an alternative to the class-based cleavage framework. Also in this second part, Swedish survey data collected in 1995 is analyzed using the LISREL method to check the empirical validity of the suggested framework.The dissertation concludes by suggesting the new notion of welfare rights alliance as a conceptual tool for linking the macro-micro-macro relationships of pro-welfare politics. Building on this, a multi-dimensional model of public welfare change is presented, along with examples of how the preceding discussions and analyses can be understood in the context of the model.
9.
Backlund, Kenneth, 1966-
(författare)
Welfare measurement, externalities and Pigouvian taxation in dynamic economies
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This thesis consists of five papers.Paper [1] analyzes one possible way of replacing dynamic Pigouvian taxes by a static approximation of such taxes from the point of view of social accounting. The idea is to approximate a Pigouvian emission tax by using the instantaneous marginal willingness to pay to reduce the stock of pollution. If this approximation is close enough to the correct Pigouvian tax it will be useful for at least two reasons: (i) it brings the economy close to the socially optimal solution; and (ii) it provides information relevant for social accounting by closely approximating the value of additions to the stock of pollution.Paper [2] analyzes the welfare effects of an agreement between countries to slightly increase their emission taxes. The results indicate that such an agreement need not necessarily increase the global welfare level, even if each individual country has set its prereform emission tax to be lower than the marginal social cost of pollution.Paper [3] provides an economic framework for analyzing the global warming problem, emphasizing the use of forests as a means of carbon sequestration. We explore the difference between the decentralized economy and the socially optimal resource allocation, and discuss the appropriate tax system required to implement the first best optimum.Paper [4] incorporates the uncertainty involved in the production of nuclear energy into a dynamic general equilibrium growth model. We compare the resource allocation in the decentralized economy with the socially optimal resource allocation and design the dynamic Pigouvian taxes that make the decentralized economy reproduce the socially optimal resource allocation.Paper [5] treats externalities from nuclear power in a dynamic differential game framework involving two countries, which differ with regard to their nuclear technology. The model is solved numerically, where one country is considered relatively safe and the other relatively less safe.
10.
Bereketeab, Redie
(författare)
Eritrea : The making of a nation 1890-1991
2000
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This dissertation examines the century-long process of the making of the Eritrean nation.Developments that culminated in the emergence of the State of Eritrea in 1991 are investigated and elaborated as they are traced from their beginnings in 1890, when Italy declared the creation of its new Colony of Eritrea. The study argues that the act of territorial delineation initiated the creation of Eritrea, followed by various phases of transformation that shaped its formation. This century-long process is divided into three distinct periods, Italian rule, the British Administration and Ethiopian rule.This thesis contends that the making of Eritrea was fundamentally the result of the actions of two groups of collective actors - the colonial powers and the nationalist movements. It examines this interplay, beginning with the impact of Italian colonialism on the socio-economic structure of Eritrean society. The nationalist political movement fostered the development of Eritrean national consciousness. The impact of Ethiopian involvement in Eritrea was significant in that the resistance it sparked in Eritreans led to the creation of an Eritrean identity. The National Liberation Movement, in its fight against Ethiopian occupation, and in its intention of bringing social change contributed decisively to the formation of the Eritrean nation. Based on the existing paradigm of theories of nation formation, six analytical dimensions are selected. These are territorial integration, socio-economic integration, politico-legal integration, common history, common culture and the will to live together. A sociological interpretation of the process of formation of the Eritrean nation is elaborated through a chronological examination of developments in Eritrea.The central points of the thesis are briefly summarised as follows. Pre-colonial societies with no common history, culture or state-like organisation were integrated by the Italians into what came to be known as the Colony of Eritrea. Territorial integration was achieved under Italian rule, while the process of socio-economic and politico-legal integration continued during the British Administration and Ethiopian-domination. Out of this integration by force and the Eritreans' struggle against colonial rule, a commonly experienced history and shared culture emerged, and the people of Eritrea began to develop a will to live together. The emergent dimensions of nation formation in Eritrea are characterised by territorial, socio-economic and politico-legal integration, common history, common culture and the will to live together. A duality of identity also characterises the Eritrean path to nation formation in the form of both sub-national identity and national identity. Filly, the State of Eritrea emerged from the struggles between the Ethiopian rulers and the NLM, which shaped and reshaped the web of relationships between the mentioned six emergent dimensions of nation characterising Eritrea.
